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3 Arrested for Threatening Akihabara Otaku for 250,000 Yen
posted on by Egan Loo
Police arrested three male suspects for allegedly threatening pedestrians in Tokyo's Akihabara district and stealing 250,000 yen (about US$2,500). According to the police, 20-year-old Masaki Tanaka and two 18-year-olds picked a fight with a 28-year-old male office worker walking in front of the JR Akihabara railway station last December. The suspects then allegedly stole the victim's driver's license and threatened him by saying, "We can sell your organs for a high price. The last guy gave up 150,000 yen" [US$1,500].
Tanaka reportedly said under deposition, "I did it because there aren't strong people who are likely to fight well in an area where otaku seem to gather."
A young law student and his twin sister were arrested and sentenced for similarly targeting otaku and extorting 110,000 yen (US$1,100) from two different victims in Akihabara in 2007. Four male middle-school third-year stuent were arrested last May for still another similar extortion scheme in 12 incidents in or near Akihabara for 140,000 yen (US$1,400).
Sources: NTV News 24, FNN, TBS
